How to Wear a White Button-Down Shirt

Styling 101: Olivia, Leigh, and Julia Take On the White Shirt 3 Ways

Carolina Herrera's launch of the CH White Shirt Collection proved to be more than just a party — the celebration was also a celebrity how-to in styling the designer's new line of classic button-downs. This trio of fashion insiders — Olivia Palermo, Julia Restoin Roitfeld, and Leigh Lezark — each took on a piece from the collection and gave the smart staple a style-savvy twist. If you've ever overlooked the button-down or cast it aside as a humdrum wardrobe necessity, these three renditions may just serve to sway your opinion. Certainly, there's a little fashion fodder here for every personality, from Olivia's leather pants to Julia's more elegant evening look. Just read on for the styling takeaways, courtesy of three of our favorite fashion faces.

The sophisticate: Leigh offered a more conservative approach, the kind you just might take to the office — perhaps with a polished blazer to top it off. She kept her style simple but selected a cap-sleeved iteration to inject a little more interest and drew attention to the collar by buttoning the blouse to the very top. Wide-leg pants balanced out the slim proportion on top — great for curvier bodies or pear shapes — and she finished with a pointed-toe pump for a sophisticated edge.

The trend-driven alternative: If you thought the white shirt couldn't translate to your trendier looks, think again. That's the beauty of a wardrobe classic like this, and as Olivia proved, it works so easily with cooler pieces, like her leather bottoms. Olivia's look is ideal for taking out to dinner or a night out with the girls. She balanced the slim proportions of her pants with an oversize button-down, then glammed it up with details like her metallic clutch and pumps.

The elegant evening option: We love Julia's dressier approach. She gave the white button-down the evening treatment with a high-waisted maxi skirt that accentuated her waist with a sash — the kind of styling juxtaposition we've loved from the likes of Sharon Stone (remember that Gap button-down at the Oscars?). It's simple enough, but Julia added a bit of a sultrier effect with a more exposed neckline, revealing just a hint of her black bra, and sealed the look with a red lip and a leopard-print clutch in tow. Take note: this is perfect holiday-party material.